QUADRUPLETS BORN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 124, 7 March 1935, Page 6

QUADRUPLETS BORN.

FAMILY AT DUNEDIN. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, March 6. For wbat is believed to be the first time in the history of New Zealand, quadruplets, three girls and a boy, were born in Dunedin Public Hospital tonight. The boy weighs 41b lOoz and the girls 4lb Soz, 31b 15oz and 4lb 9oz. Mr and Airs George Johnson, the proud parents, were married 10 years ago, and already have two girls aged; eight and six, and five yeai-s ago they lost a baby three days old.

ALL OF GOOD WEIGHT, BABIES ABSOLUTELY SOUND. DUNEDIN, This Day. The Johnson quadruplets were christened tills morning by the Rev. Father Halley. The names bestowed ■were: Bruce, Mary, Kathleen and Vera. The odds against quadruplets being torn are 757,000 to one, with infinitely greater odds against all being born alive. The total weight of the quadruplets is 171 b 7oz, or 41b 7oz more than the faliious Canadian quintuplets, despite 'the fact that the births were more than six weeks premat urb. The individual weights are greater than for many single premature babies. Mr Johnson is employed at the Corporation gasworks. He knew of the treat in store a fortnight ago, when X-ray photographs revealed four little spinal columns. Mrs Johnson has been specially attended by Professor Dawson, who stated that the delivery was a normal one and the babies were absolutely sound. Prematurity was invariable with multiple births, which were most common in Ireland, Russia, and Spain. It is understood that in the family of Mrs Johnson there have been several twin births, but Dr. Dawsor. does not think hereditary influence has played a part in the occurrence, being an unaecouhtabb abnormality.